The Hound of Heaven

by

Francis Thompson (1859-1907)

IfledHim,downthenightsanddownthedays;
IfledHim,downthearchesoftheyears;
IfledHim,downthelabyrinthineways
Ofmyownmind;andinthemistoftears
IhidfromHim,andunderrunninglaughter.
UpvistaedhopesIsped;
Andshot,precipitated,
AdownTitanicgloomsofchasmedfears,
FromthosestrongFeetthatfollowed,followedafter.
Butwithunhurryingchase,
Andunperturbdpace,
Deliberatespeed,majesticinstancy,
TheybeatandaVoicebeat
MoreinstantthantheFeet
"Allthingsbetraythee,whobetrayestMe."

Ipleaded,outlawwise,
Bymanyaheartedcasement,curtainedred,
Trellisedwithintertwiningcharities
(For,thoughIknewHisloveWhofollowed,
YetwasIsoreadread
LesthavingHim,Imusthavenaughtbeside);
Butifonelittlecasementpartedwide,
ThegustofHisapproachwouldclashitto.
Fearwistnottoevade,asLovewisttopursue.
AcrossthemargentoftheworldIfled,
Andtroubledthegoldgatewaysofthestars,
Smitingforshelterontheirclangedbars;
Frettedtodulcetjars
Andsilvernchatterthepaleportso'themoon.
Isaidtodawn,Besudden;toeve,Besoon;
Withthyyoungskyeyblossomsheapmeover
FromthistremendousLover!
Floatthyvagueveilaboutme,lestHesee!
ItemptedallHisservitors,buttofind
Myownbetrayalintheirconstancy,
InfaithtoHimtheirficklenesstome,
Theirtraitoroustrueness,andtheirloyaldeceit.
ToallswiftthingsforswiftnessdidIsue;
Clungtothewhistlingmaneofeverywind.
Butwhethertheyswept,smoothlyfleet,
Thelongsavannahsoftheblue;
Orwhether,Thunderdriven,
Theyclangedhischariot'thwartaheaven
Plashywithflyinglightningsroundthespurno'theirfeet
Stillwithunhurryingchase,
Andunperturbdpace,
Deliberatespeed,majesticinstancy,
CameonthefollowingFeet,
AndaVoiceabovetheirbeat
"Naughtsheltersthee,whowiltnotshelterMe."

IsoughtnomorethatafterwhichIstrayed
Infaceofmanormaid;
Butstillwithinthelittlechildren'seyes
Seemssomething,somethingthatreplies;
Theyatleastareforme,surelyforme!
Iturnedmetothemverywistfully;
But,justastheiryoungeyesgrewsuddenfair
Withdawninganswersthere,
Theirangelpluckedthemfrommebythehair.
"Comethen,yeotherchildren,Nature'sshare
Withme,"saidI,"yourdelicatefellowship;
Letmegreetyouliptolip,
Letmetwinewithyoucaresses,
Wantoning
WithourLadyMother'svagranttresses'
Banqueting
Withherinherwindwalledpalace,
Underneathherazureddas,
Quaffing,asyourtaintlesswayis,
Fromachalice
Lucentweepingoutofthedayspring."
Soitwasdone;
Iintheirdelicatefellowshipwasone
DrewtheboltofNature'ssecrecies.
Iknewalltheswiftimportings
Onthewilfulfaceofskies;
Iknewhowthecloudsarise
Spumdofthewildseasnortings;
Allthat'sbornordies
Roseanddroopedwithmadethemshapers
Ofmineownmoods,orwailfulordivine
Withthemjoyedandwasbereaven.
Iwasheavywiththeeven,
Whenshelitherglimmeringtapers
Roundtheday'sdeadsanctities.
Ilaughedinthemorning'seyes.
ItriumphedandIsaddenedwithallweather,
HeavenandIwepttogether,
Anditssweettearsweresaltwithmortalmine;
Againsttheredthrobofitssunsetheart
Ilaidmyowntobeat,
Andsharecomminglingheat;
Butnotbythat,bythat,waseasedmyhumansmart.
InvainmytearswerewetonHeaven'sgraycheek.
Forah!weknownotwhateachothersays,
ThesethingsandI;insoundIspeak
Theirsoundisbuttheirstir,theyspeakbysilences.
Nature,poorstepdame,cannotslakemydrouth;
Lether,ifshewouldoweme,
Dropyonbluebosomveilofsky,andshowme
Thebreastsofhertenderness;
Neverdidanymilkofhersoncebless
Mythirstingmouth.
Nighandnighdrawsthechase,
Withunperturbdpace,
Deliberatespeed,majesticinstancy;
AndpastthosenoisdFeet
Avoicecomesyetmorefleet
"Lonaughtcontentsthee,whocontent'stnotMe."

NakedIwaitThylove'supliftedstroke!
MyharnesspiecebypieceThouhasthewnfromme,
Andsmittenmetomyknee;
Iamdefenselessutterly.
Islept,methinks,andwoke,
And,slowlygazing,findmestrippedinsleep.
Intherashlustiheadofmyyoungpowers,
Ishookthepillaringhours
Andpulledmylifeuponme;grimedwithsmears,
Istandamidthedusto'themoundedyears
Mymangledyouthliesdeadbeneaththeheap.
Mydayshavecrackledandgoneupinsmoke,
Havepuffedandburstassunstartsonastream.
Yea,failethnowevendream
Thedreamer,andthelutethelutanist;
Eventhelinkedfantasies,inwhoseblossomytwist
Iswungtheearthatrinketatmywrist,
Areyielding;cordsofalltooweakaccount
Forearthwithheavygriefssooverplussed.
Ah!isThyloveindeed
Aweed,albeitamaranthineweed,
Sufferingnoflowersexceptitsowntomount?
Ah!must
Designerinfinite!
Ah!mustThoucharthewoodereThoucanstlimnwithit?
Myfreshnessspentitswaveringshoweri'thedust;
Andnowmyheartisabrokenfount,
Whereinteardrippingsstagnate,spiltdownever
Fromthedankthoughtsthatshiver
Uponthesighfulbranchesofmymind.
Suchis;whatistobe?
Thepulpsobitter,howshalltastetherind?
IdimlyguesswhatTimeinmistconfounds;
Yeteverandanonatrumpetsounds
FromthehidbattlementsofEternity;
Thoseshakenmistsaspaceunsettle,then
Roundthehalfglimpsedturretsslowlywashagain.
Butnoterehimwhosummoneth
Ifirsthaveseen,enwound
Withbloomingrobes,purpureal,cypresscrowned;
HisnameIknow,andwhathistrumpetsaith.
Whetherman'sheartorlifeitbewhichyields
Theeharvest,mustThyharvestfields
Bedungedwithrottendeath?

Nowofthatlongpursuit
Comesonathandthebruit;
ThatVoiceisroundmelikeaburstingsea:
"Andisthyearthsomarred,
Shatteredinshardonshard?
Lo,allthingsflythee,forthoufliestMe!
Strange,piteous,futilething,
Whereforeshouldanysettheeloveapart?
SeeingnonebutImakesmuchofnaught,"Hesaid,
"Andhumanloveneedshumanmeriting,
Howhastthoumerited
Ofallman'sclottedclayrhedingiestclot?
Alack,thouknowestnot
Howlittleworthyofanylovethouart!
Whomwiltthoufindtoloveignoblethee
SaveMe,saveonlyMe?
AllwhichItookfromtheeIdidbuttake,
Notforthyharms.
Butjustthatthoumight'stseekitinmyarms.
Allwhichthychild'smistake
Fanciesaslost,Ihavestoredfortheathome;
Rise,claspMyhand,andcome!"

Haltsbymethatfootfall;
Ismygloom,afterall,
ShadeofHishand,outstrechedcaressingly?
"Ah,fondest,blindest,weakest,
IamHeWhomthouseekest!
Thoudravestlovefromthee,whodravestMe."

FrancisThompson(18591907)